Spawn - overview!

The first issue of Spawn I ever read was issue #11. A friend at school sold it to me after I expressed an interest in comics. 

I hadn't long been exposed to the world of comics and aside from The Silver Surfer, had only been picking up cartoon and movie tie-ins, such as The Tick(this was before I understood The Tick cartoon had in fact, been adapted from it's own comic)!

My friend had told me all about Spawn and figured I would enjoy it. We both enjoyed drawing and shared a love for the macabre, after-all!

I was shocked and horrified, upon reading issue #11 - but, y'know, in a good way!
The lasting image(forever ingrained in the memory) was of Spawn tearing through the innards of a man, having teleported inside him! It blew my mind - this was no-holds-bared story-telling!
That day I learnt what comics were capable of - and my desire to draw them was pretty much cemented.
Later-on I realised issue #11 was a bit of a one-off. Instead of regular writer(and creator) Todd McFarlane, this issue was written by Frank Miller. Unfamiliar with Millers grandiose works at the time, this would be my introduction to his signature style. I think it can safely be said that Miller was pretty much let off the leash with this issue. This tale was gratuitous but fun! Future issues of the title would be better, but perhaps not as gory or visceral as this 22 page onslaught!

I was thrilled with my purchase and even more so at the thought of only 10 back-issues to collect. Unfortunately my friend had sold me an issue which was close to 18 months old. I rocked up at my new favourite store('Fantastic Store' in Brighton, England) only to discover that issue #29 of Spawn had just been released!
I bought it of course - and had a flick through the back issues which this particular store carried. What struck me the most, flicking through those earlier issues, were the prices. Each one more costly than the last - issue #3 and #4 being the most expensive!

Issue #29 did not disappoint. In fact, even as I pick up the new issue each month and catch up on what I missed through the trades, I can safely say it's my favourite single issue ever - of any comic!

Spawn had gone through quite a transition since my introduction, but as with issue #11, this issue would stand out from the series also!
Spawn had been removed from his environment in the alleyways of New York and transported to Alabama. In this story, Spawn befriend's a couple of young boys who have an abusive father. After witnessing the results of said abuse, Spawn takes it upon himself to educate the loathsome guardian. What happened next is where this particular story triumphed. I won't spoil it for you, but I will say with issue #29, Spawn took the responsibility of a commercial comic book very seriously. Moreover, issue #29 presented Spawn and his actions as fallible - particularly with it's haunting denouement.
Even though Spawn was a superhero book(or more specifically, supernatural), it was being injected with a substantial dose of the real world(the following issue would tackle racism). This combination of real world scenarios mixed with the fantastical was inspiring and would go on to inform my own work.

I couldn't have started collecting Spawn at a more exciting, nor influential time. Both Spawn and McFarlane would return to the alleyways of New York, and continue on their supernatural path - this time with a more realistic approach to the world around them.
Greg Capullo had joined them as penciller on the title and had taken McFarlane's unique style and given it a real-world sheen(McFarlane continued to ink each page, making the change in penciller a subtle transition).

I would collect the series until the early #50's - and would manage to find and collect all the back issues I was previously missing. Issue #3 and #4 would complete my collection and were given to me by my uncle on my birthday(as insisted, issue #4 had the Image #0 coupon intact)!

Issue #43 would be the next issue to blow my 'fragile little mind' - this time with it's captivating and long gestating story!
A major story thread culminated in this issue, which had begun with issue #5. This was a thrilling pay-off to all those that had invested in the series - both literally and figuratively.
Issue #43 told the story of Chief Banks(head of police at Spawn's particular precinct) and his involvement with child killer, Billy Kincaid(first introduced in issue #5). It was a house-of-cards type thriller, which despite Spawn's previous involvement, was played out without our hero present.

The title had passed issue #50 and I was close to having collected 60 issues of Spawn.
For some strange reason I decided to get rid of the single issues I had been collecting, retaining only the first 35 issues. I do remember thinking that the quality of the book had waned somewhat. Money was tight and there were other books on the shelves vying for my attention. I can't, for the life of me, remember what I did with those later issues. As I pick-up the trades today, I question where my head was at back then?!

Issue # 185 would be the seminal issue to reignite my interest in all things, 'Spawn' again!
This issue was heavily promoted on the web, with McFarlane announcing a dedicated website and art competition!
This alone would catch my attention, as I set about entering said competition(you'll find my entry under, 'Seasons Greetings!' on this blog - it was black and white for the comp)!
As a purchaser of the upcoming issue, the selling point for me was both McFarlane's return as co-writer and inker, and Whilce Portacio's involvement as penciller. Portacio had created Wetworks back in the early 90's, as one of the second-tier of creators to join Image comics(publishers). Despite my love for Portacio's work, I have to admit to buying Capullo's dynamic variant(see above) upon release.
Spawn #185 was a great-looking book and began the 'Endgame' arc, which would culminate with issue #200. The story began with a shock - certainly to all those familiar with the title - and introduced a new character, who would later take on the mantle of another, very different Spawn.
If Spawn was going to look this good, and be this captivating a read each month, then I was in - certainly until issue #200.

The Endgame story didn't disappoint and as an art-fan(particularly of the early Image books), many of the issues proceeding #200 were chock-full of works by early Image founders and creators. From covers to interior art, the likes of; Rob Liefield, Khary Randolph, Erik Larson and Greg Capullo were all present - with more producing covers for the anniversary issue(my brother kindly bought me the Jim Lee variant of issue #200 for Christmas)!

I was fully prepared to stop collecting at issue #200. I had 15 fantastic issues and had completed a seminal story-arc. Were it not for the talents of Szymon Kudranski!

I was unfamiliar with Kudranski's work, and bought issue #201 thinking it would probably be my last - at least until I was compelled to pick it up again.
I was sufficiently interested in the direction this new Spawn character was heading, so it would be the art which would have to convince me to continue collecting.

Kudranski's art was and continues to be terrific! His art complements the writing magnificently, creating an incredibly realistic world - more cinematic than any previous talent pool.
Kudranski is a talented illustrator using photography and digital tools to bring the world of Spawn to life. I'm a huge advocate of hand-rendered illustration and have mixed feelings about computer aided manipulation and effects. However, as a commercial artist, Kudranski is doing what is necessary to bring these pages to life and he's doing it in a singular style, all of his own. Despite my own thoughts regarding comic-book illustration, this particular combination of writer and artist has me hooked!

Issue #214 currently stands out, as the best example of the current creative team - which also includes Will Carlton as writer. This particular issue ends with another great moment, as a major character is reintroduced to the fold. This was the most excited I've been about a comic-book in some time!

Around the time of the 200th issue I started picking up the newly published trades, beginning with book 7(collecting issues 39 - 44). It's been great revisiting the stories I once owned - and even better discovering new tales in the Spawn compendium.

I now find myself(sandwich-like) collecting tales of Spawn from both ends. And just as the new issues are proving how significant Spawn still is, so too are the older ones.
I was sceptical at first - perhaps even a little elitist. However, returning to this series via the trades has been a rewarding experience. As Spawn's universe expands and his mythology deepens, I've found there to be many a notable tale.
The stand-out for me so far, is issue #76, by Brian Holguin, McFarlane, Dwayne Turner and Danny Miki. This was a tender love story regarding Spawns grandmother and the love of her life. It was unexpected and captivating - a bitter-sweet tale which came close to leaving me teary-eyed!

In my humble opinion, the 6 issues featured here represent the most significant tales Spawn has to offer. They are significant to me and represent my own personal taste, but I believe collectively, they encompass everything Spawn represents; balls-to-the-walls action, social and political commentary, thrilling art and inventive story-telling - grandiose sensibilities of love and sacrifice and good triumphing over evil.

Spawn is known for being the most successful independent comic-book of all time. The fact that it's still being published after 200 issues, speaks volumes. I'll cease collecting again at some juncture I'm sure, but just as Michael Corleone found with his 'family' - they'll undoubtedly find a way to pull me back in!


Images courtesy: TMP International, Inc
Visit the Spawn website at: www.spawn.com